ATEX Directive

Any control equipment used to ensure the safe operation of equipment in a hazardous
area falls within the scope of the ATEX Directive (from the French Atmospheres
Explosibles). The ATEX Directive combines two European Directives associated with
equipment used in and people who work in potentially explosive atmospheres. It not only
considers potentially explosive concentrations of gas, vapor or mist in the air, but also
concentrations of dust. It accounts for both electrical and mechanical sources of ignition.
It also concerns the minimum requirements for improving safety and health protection of
workers at risk from explosive atmospheres. An Explosive Atmosphere is the mixture of
flammable substances in the form of gases, vapors, mists or dusts with air.

ATEX Directive 94/9/EC (also known as ATEX 95 or ATEX 100A)

If you design, manufacture or sell any equipment or protective system intended for use in
potentially explosive atmospheres, you must comply with the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC
and the CE Marking Directive to market those products in the European Union (EU).
This directive covers equipment1 and protective systems2, which may be used in
hazardous areas created by the existence of flammable gases, vapors, mists or dusts. It
also covers electrical and non-electrical equipment. The following types of products are
excluded from the directive's requirements:

Medical devices.
Products for the use in the presence of explosives.
Products for domestic use.
Personal protective equipment.
Sea-going vessels and mobile off-shore units.
Means of transport, except vehicles for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
Military equipment.
Essential Health And Safety Requirements (EHSR)

Equipment, protective systems and safety devices must satisfy the relevant essential
health and safety requirements set out in Annex C of Directive 94/9/EC. The
requirements take into account the intended use of the products and changes in
technological knowledge as far as possible, with immediate utilization. They include
general measures requiring manufacturers to take steps to prevent the formation of
explosive atmospheres by the equipment, protective system or safety device; to prevent
the ignition of an explosive atmosphere by electrical and non-electrical sources; and to
ensure that, should an explosion occur, it can be stopped immediately or limited in extent.
Other aspects covered: the materials used; design and construction; mechanical hazards
and vibrations; safe opening; electrostatic hazards; hazards arising from external effects;
and the integration of safety requirements.

Methods of Complying with the Essential Health and Safety

Requirements
Products must be manufactured in conformity with:

Specified European harmonized standards; or

Harmonized standards specified in the Electrical Equipment for Explosive
Atmospheres (Certification) Regulations 1990; or
In the absence of specified European harmonized standards, existing national
technical standards and specifications may be used instead; or
The essential health and safety requirements.

When using any of the first three standards listed above, check that the standard(s) cover
all of the essential health and safety requirements relevant to the product; and the
standard(s) are to the current state of technical knowledge. In the absence of a relevant
standard, a manufacturer must demonstrate conformity of the product with the
requirement self.

Classification of Equipment and Hazardous Areas

Equipment is divided into two groups (I for mining and II for surface industries) and into
categories (M1and M2 for mining) and categories 1, 2 and 3 for all other industries.

ATEX Directive 99/92/EC (also known as USE or ATEX 137) refers to the safety and
health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres. The directive
highlights what the employer must do to prevent and protect against explosions as well as
classifies hazardous areas into zones, as defined below:

Gas, Mists or Vapors

Zone 0 An atmosphere where a mixture of air and flammable substances in the

form of gas, vapor or mist is present frequently, continuously or for long periods.
Zone 1 An atmosphere where a mixture of air and flammable substances in the
form of gas, vapor or mist is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.
Zone 2 An atmosphere where a mixture of air and flammable substances in the
form of gas, vapor or mist is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does
occur, will persist for only a short period.

Dusts

Zone 20 An atmosphere where a cloud of combustible dust in the air is present

frequently, continuously or for long periods.
Zone 21 An atmosphere where a cloud of combustible dust in the air is likely
to occur in normal operation occasionally.
Zone 22 An atmosphere where a cloud of combustible dust in the air is not
likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for only a
short period.
 ATEX Group II Categories and Applications

Design of Design Zone of

Category Application
Safety Requirements Use

Very Two independent Where explosive Zone 0

high level means of protection or atmospheres are present
1 Zone 20
of safety safe with two separate continuously or for
faults lengthy periods

High Safe with frequently Where explosive Zone 1

level of occurring disturbances atmospheres are likely to
2 Zone 21
safety or with an operating occur
fault

Normal Safe in normal Where explosive Zone 2

level of operation atmospheres are likely to
3 Zone 22
safety occur infrequently and be
of short duration

EC Type Examination Certificate

It is mandatory for manufacturers to obtain an EC (European Community) Type

Examination Certificate from a notified body if they are manufacturing electrical
equipment in Categories M1, M2, 1 and 2 or diesel engine protection systems in Category
2. In all other cases manufacturers are free to certify their own equipment. Depending on
the equipment's categorization, manufacturers are required to install a quality system that
ensures product replication. There are five (5) annexes in the ATEX Directive which
identify different quality systems for this purpose. Manufacturers are required to have in
place either an ISO 9000 quality management system or a notified body must be involved
in the inspection of product in some capacity. In either case a notified body is responsible
for ensuring that products produced meet the original EC Type Examination Certificate.
Quality management systems must either be audited by the notified body (if EN 45012
accredited) or another organization that has this qualification and is accepted by the
notified body.
Explosive Protection Document (EPD)

The directive also requires that an Explosive Protection Document be prepared and
maintained which identifies hazards, evaluates risks and defines safety measures.
In addition to assessing the effect of any explosion the EPD must consider:

Substitution of flammable products with non-flammable

Training
Permits to work
Warning of explosive conditions
Escape routes
Power failure
Manual overrides
Emergency shutdown
Co-ordination between workers in the area
Installation and maintenance of equipment
Permit to work systems
Warning notices
Policies and procedures associated with equipment for potentially explosive
atmospheres.

Signs
The directive requires that all areas classified as hazardous be identified with a warning
sign. The sign must be triangular, black on yellow with the text EX (see below). The
signs must be displayed at points of entry into explosive atmospheres.
In addition to the 94/9/EC ATEX Directive, products for use in potentially explosive
atmospheres may require to be compliant with other directives including the 89/336/EEC
Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive, which became mandatory on January
1, 96. This directive applies to virtually all electrical and electronic apparatus potentially
able to generate interfering emissions or exhibit an undue sensitivity to interference
sources.
Once compliance with the relevant directives is complete and an EC Declaration of
Conformity is issued by the manufacturer, the "CE" mark may be applied and the product
placed on the market (see below).

Conclusion
With the introduction of the ATEX Directive manufacturers now have an opportunity to
introduce more innovative products than was possible under the old Explosive
Atmospheres Directive. Compliance with the requirements of the ATEX Directive is
complex. The directive sets a number of technical and quality objectives that must be
complied with to the satisfaction of a notified body. However, once these have been met,
a manufacturer is entitled to display the distinctive European Mark which is recognized
throughout the European Union.

1. Equipment is any item which contains or constitutes a potential ignition source and
which requires special measures to be incorporated in its design and/or installation in
order to prevent the ignition source from initiating an explosion in the surrounding
atmosphere. Also included in the term equipment are safety or control devices installed
outside the hazardous area but having an explosion protection function. A wide range of
products comes within the definition of equipment including electric motors, lighting
fittings, control and communication devices and monitoring and detection equipment.

2. Protection systems are items, which prevent an explosion that has been initiated
from spreading or causing damages. They include flame arresters, quenching systems,
pressure relief panels and fast-acting shut-off valve.